Cell Phone Ring Tone Proliferation Corrupts Song Birds

Posted Thursday, March 13, 2008, at 4:19 PM

Well, now I've heard it all! A few mornings ago I was awakened by a cell phone ringing, but it wasn't mine nor my wife's. And it was coming from just outside my bedroom window. As I lay there slowly coming to full consciousness, I realized that the phone was ringing sporadically with no regular pattern. Suddenly it dawned on me (no pun intended) that I was not hearing a phone, but a bird, probably a Mockingbird or Starling, that had added to his repertoire a modern cell phone ring tone! I was aghast. "No" I thought, "Surely not. It can't be." But it was and for the last three days I have heard not one, but two different ring tones. I planned to record them while spring was still approaching and bird songs would soon peak. Else, who is going to believe me.

But even worse, if this phenomenon is real and continues to spread, can you imagine what the future holds? The world will be inundated with the sounds of hundreds of birds, mimicking dozens of ring tones, disrupting communication, driving some of us insane.

But this morning, I heard no cell phone. "Great" I thought, maybe it was just a freak, one-time occurence, and my sanity would no longer be threatened. I went outside where the usual urban bird species were singing their natural songs. Cardinals, Robins, Starlings, and even Mockingbirds, but then I heard it, a low, brrrrrrrr......., and another brrrrrrrr......and another.

great stuff. I also understand that the same species of birds in different parts of the USA have accents, just like we do (new yorker versus someone from Dyersburg)... comments please. thanks

-- Posted by rewh on Tue, Apr 29, 2008, at 7:59 AM

great stuff. I also understand that the same species of birds in different parts of the USA have accents, just like we do (new yorker versus someone from Dyersburg)... comments please. thanks

-- Posted by rewh on Tue, Apr 29, 2008, at 7:59 AM

This is very interesting, and has encouraged me to test a theory I had last summer.

I have a Mocking Bird in my yard. They can repeat the calls of many birds. So what if I play a series of maybe a three note pattern on my electric guitar, while the bird is nearby.

Will it be able to mimic it back to me?

I will let you know how this comes out.

-- Posted by bond007 on Fri, Mar 14, 2008, at 4:37 PM

I haven't heard the birds repeating ringtones from cell phones but I did hear some birds that apparently roosted near the firestation near the hospital that imitated the fire truck and ambulance sirens. It kinda threw me for a bit as I looked around for the flashing lights.

Just be glad there aren't the annoying people talking too loud for public conversation close by as well.

-- Posted by miked on Fri, Mar 14, 2008, at 10:06 AM

You are right. I have noticed this as well. Several times I have been on my porch and heard what I thought was my cell phone inside. After walking back in I discovered that it was a bird. Here is a site to listen to different bird calls, many do have cell phone characteristics. Go here - http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/9003...